Coin-controlled facsimile system



Dec. 12, 1944. e. H. RIDINs ETAL COIN CONTROLLED FAGSIMILE SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 FIG.|

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WW MIIHHW INVENTOR S G.H. RIDINGS I R.J WISE AoR Dec. 12, 1944. I RlDlNGs ETAL 2,364,754

COIN CONTROLLED FACSIMILE SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS G.H. R I 01 N65 77 BY R.'J WISE FI G.3

Dec. 12,1944. G. H. mums ETAL 2,364,754

COIN CONTROLLED FACSIMILE SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 4 ShetS-ShQGt 3 MESSAGE// same PLEASE MESSAGE um: DEPOSIT TRANSMITTED REWRITE ACCEPTED ausv SLUG MESSAGE AMPLIFIER RS RIDINGS .WISE

F I G 8 G.H. BY 'R.J

BNA AORN D ,1 G. H. RiDINGS ETAL 2,364,754

COIN CONTROLLED FACSIMILE SYSTEM I Filed April 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.9 m

AMPLIFIER SIGNAL INVERTER DEPOSIT MESSAGE RECORD R MOVE DRUM v PEEL MESSAGE REWRITE OFF MESSAGE ACCEPTED I62 I37 I35 I59 INVENTORS GH.RID|'NG5 BY R.J.W!$E

Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COIN-CONTROLLED FACSIMILE SYSTEM Garvice H. Ridings, Summit, and Raleigh J. Wise, Dunellen, N. J.. assignors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,163

(01. 194-1) This invention relates to automatic telegraph chanical details are shown as are necessary to a 6 Claims.

systems and particularly to facsimile transmission systems such, for example, as that disclosed in the copending application of Wise et al. for System and apparatus for automatic facsimile telegraphy, filed April 22, 1939, Ser. No. 269,314, now Patent No. 2,262,715, granted November 11, 1941, although it will be apparent that the present invention is not limited to use with any single system or apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a check-controlled automatic telegraph transmitter.

A further object is to provide a coin controlled automatic telegraph adapted to be operated by a customer and constructed and arranged to return the coin to the customer if the message to be sent is not acceptable.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of the type set forth in which acceptance or rejection of the customer's coin is controlled from the receiving apparatus.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are accomplished by the present invention, one embodimentof which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view through an automatic facsimile transmitting apparatus constructed in invention; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic showing of a circuit arrangement and parts of an associated receiving apparatus for receiving messages transmitted by the apparatus of Fig. 8..

In the present invention a facsimile transmitcomplete understanding of this invention.

Transmitting apparatus The transmitting apparatus (see Figs. 2 and 8) includes a chute I5 of elongated box-like form extending from a slot IS in the front of the box i 0 to a point adjacent a copy or message scanning cylinder ll mounted on a shaft is adapted to be driven through suitable gearing by a synchronous or other speed controlled motor 2|. A photo-cell 22, exciter lamp 23, and associated optical mechanism comprising a message scanning mechanism are mounted on a carriage 24 movable longitudinally of the rotary cylinder ll to scan a message thereon. A light chopper 25 driven by a motor 28 forms a part of the scanning mechanism.

The scanning carriage is moved longitudinally of the cylinder l'i by a rotary feed screw 21 driven by the synchronous motor 2i and adapted to be connected to the carriage by a half-nut 28 on one end of a lever 29 pivoted to a supporting bracket 39 on the carriage. and connected to an armature 32 of a half-nut operating magnet 33.

The chute it extends from the slot it downwardly to a. point adjacent the cylinder l1 and is positioned substantially tangent thereto. The mouth of the chute is normally closed by a closure slide 35 connected to the end of the armature 36 of a chute closure magnet 31. A spring 38 holds the slide in chute closing position when the magnet is deenergized. Y The scanning cylinder I1 is provided with a circumferential series of message holding teeth it, as described more fully in Patent No. 2,262,715. The teeth engage a message sheet 42 fed downwardly through the chute i6 and cause it to be wrapped in position around the cylinder ll, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8. As described in the said patent, the

sheet is formed with a cut corner so as to require being inserted in the chute in the way necessary I to insure its being properly positioned on the cylinder for correct transmission of the message subject matter. When on the cylinder, th sheet raises an arm 43 supported on a rock shaft 44 having a switch arm 45 secured thereto for opening and closing switch contacts 48. A circumferential groove 41 in the cylinder receives the end of the arm 43 when no sheet is on the cylinder. The arrangement is such that the contacts are closed when no message sheet is on contacts. A torsion spring 48 tends to press the arm into the groove.

When a message on the cylinder has been scanned, it is stripped from the cylinder by a stripper blade 9i formed on or by the armature of a stripper magnet 52. The blade is pivotally mounted on a support 59 and normally held in inoperative position by a spring 50 or the like. The dimensions of the message sheet are such that a gap is left between the edges of the sheet when it is wrapped around the cylinder. The message sheet is stripped from the cylinder by energizing the magnet 02 which moves the stripper blade into position against the cylinder so that the edge slips under the edge of the message sheet and peels it from the cylinder. When peeled from the cylinder, the sheet fall into a bin 55 or the like where it remains until collected by an authorized person having access to the bin through a locked door 89 or the like.

The present invention provides a check-controlled mechanism for operation by a customer in using the transmitting apparatus for sending messages. As illustrated in Figs. 3 to "I, inclusive, a coin slide 6| is slidably mounted in a channel member 82 and is provided with a coin opening 69 of a size to receive and fit a predetermined coin such, for example, as a quarter. The channel member has a similar opening 66 positioned to coincide with the slide-opening 63 when the latter is moved to its rearmost position. The slide is normally held in a position extending from the housing of the apparatus so that the opening 63 is accessible to a customer. The slide is held in this position by means of a spring 70 which is attached at one end to the slide and at the other end to any convenient stationary structure such asthe channel member substantially as shown. A slide holding opening 65 is located in the 'coin slide at a point near' the rear end thereof. Magnetically controlled mechanism is provided for holding the slide in its rearmost position. As illustrated, this includes a slide holding detent 86 extending upwardly from one end of a lever 61 formed by the armature of a coin return magnet 60. The arm is supported on pivots and normally biased by a spring II to inoperative position. When the slide has been pushed inwardly to its rearmost position, the coin return magnet is energized which moves the armature lever 61 to raise -detent 86 to engage partially in the opening 65 of the coin slide (Fig. 6) the opening 65 is so positioned and the forward edge of the detent is so beveled that the slide returns a short distance from its rearmost position before the detent 68 engages fully in the opening 65 (Fig. 7), for a purpose to be later described. When in retracted position, the coin is kept from dropping through the slide by the top face of a coin supporting surface 12 formed on one end of an armature 18 of a coin accept magnet 14. The armature is mounted on a pivot 16 for horizontal movement into and out of coin supporting position, a spring I8 normally biasing the armature into such position. The spring is attached at one end to the armature and at the other end to any convenient stationary structure such as the magnet supporting member substantially as shown. When the slide has been pushed in, a coin in the coin opening will be supported therein until the coin accept magnet is energized which withdraws the surface I2 and permits the pushed into its rearmost operative position, the face of the coin engages the end of a switch lever 0I to operate the associated switch contacts 82, while the rear edge of the coin engages the end of another switch lever 29 to close the associated contacts 04. It will be apparent that either a coin or a slug thinner or smaller in diameter than a quarter, or a washer, will not operate both sets of contacts and hence, will not operate the machine. The arrangement is such, as will be pointed out hereafter, that an improper coin, or a washer, which operates one switch arm only causes a signal to be given to the customer calla ing his attention to the factthat a, proper coin has not been inserted. V

Mounted on the scanning carriage are switch levers 9I- adapted to be engaged by a switch operating lug 92 on the adjacent end of the halfnut magnet lever 29 to close the switch contacts 99 when the half-nut magnet is energized.

ncross the front of the box I0 is a series of openings or windows 95 provided with signs 98 indicating to the customer the operation of the apparatus or directing him in operating it. The signs are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8, and are illuminated at appropriate times by lamps hereinafter described. 9

Recording apparatus The receiving or recording apparatus is usually installed at a central ofilce. It is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 and in complete detail in the copending application of Wise et al., Ser. No. 110,760, filed November 13, 1936, now Patent No. 2,255,868 granted September 16, 1941, for System and apparatus for facsimile telegraphy. The blanks upon which messages are to be recorded arev mounted on recording cylinders which are inserted in the receiving apparatus one at a time. The recording cylinder is rotated and during rotation a marking stylus which bears on the recording blank and has impressed thereon electrical impulses received over the communication circuit, scans the blank in a direction parallel to the axis of the recording cylinder. Mechanism is provided for removing a recording cylinder and blank after a message recording opera- 9'I controlled and operated by electrical circuits,

tion, and replacing them with a fresh blank and cylinder. Mechanism is also provided for storing a plurality of blank bearing recording cylinders in a magazine from which they can be automatically fed in succession to the receiving apparatus. g I

As illustrated in Fig. 9, a cylinder IN is shown in position. It has axial arbors I02 and its by which it is suspended for rotation between centering spindles I04 and I05, respectively. An arm I06 is pivoted on the spindle I06 and extends in the direction of the cylinder to engage a pin I01 projecting radially from the spindle and also a pin I08 extending radially from the arbor I02. The arm I06 is urged into engagement with the pins by a spring I09, one end of which is attached centering spindle I04. An arm or latch IIB, pivotally mounted on a support, not shown, engages the notch when acted upon solely by a retractile spring II6. An electromagnet II1, termed the framing magnet, is adapted when energized to lift the latch II out of the disc notch and permit rotation of the centering spindle I64.

A recording blank I2I is wrapped around the recording cylinder HM, and is secured ther to by suitable means such, for example, as the elastic rings or holding members I22. The blank is mounted on the cylinder so that the peripheral location of the lap I23 of the blank edges invariably bears a definite relation to the peripheral location of the notch in the disc II4. This arand having a cam follower I64 secured to its end rangement is to secure proper phasing between operatively associated with a, half-nut magnet I3I When the latter is deenergized, a spring I32 moves the lever to cause the half-nut to engage the feed screw, and the stylus to contact a recording blank on the cylinder IflI. As shown in Fig. 9, engagement of the half-nut and feed screw moves the carriage I24 to the right against the tension of a retractile spring I33. At the end of a scanning and recording operation, energizing the half-nut magnet I3I disengages the half-nut from the screw, and the carriage is returned to its initial position, as illustrated, by the spring As illustrated, the recording machine has facilities for automatically discharging a recording cylinder after a recording operation and for feeding a fresh cylinder and blank into the machine. A magazine or supply of fresh cylinders is provided (one of which I34 is indicated in dotted lines). A rack for storing fresh cylinders is formed by two rail members I35 and I36 mounted .on a pairof supporting brackets I31 and I38, re-

spectively, and spaced apart slightly more than the length of a cylinder IN. A pair of resilient upright members I39 and MI are secured to the rail members I35 and I36, respectively, to guide the stored cylinders toward the scanning device. The cylinder I34 next to be positioned in the machine is held in readiness by having its arbors M4 supported by the upper ends of a pair of detents.

one of which I is shown. Each detent is pivoted i at its lower end on the associated rail member and is normally held in cylinder restraining position by a resilient member such as a spring I46.

At the end of a scanning and recording operation a cylinder changing motor I41 is operated to drive a shaft I48 through a worm and gear drive I49. Cams I52 and I53 are secured to the shaft. A pivoted bell crank I54 has a fork I55 on one end engaging a pair of pins I56 on the centering spindle IDS-{and a cam follower I51 on the other end engaging the cam I 52. Obviously, rotation of the cam I52 moves the spindle longitudinally against the tension of a spring I58.

Longitudinal movement of the spindle withdraws it from engagement with the cylinder arbor -Ill3 permitting the cylinder to drop onto a cradle formed by grooves in a pair of members I59 and and engaging the cam I53. Hence, rotation of the shaft I 48 by the motor I41 causes the cam I53 to rockthe shaft I62 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 9, thereby imparting a similar movement to the cradle members I59 and ISI. This moves the latter outwardly until a position is reached in which the cylinder IIlI rolls by gravity from the cradle recesses into any suitable receptacle, conveyor or the like. Further rocking movement moves extensions I66 and I61 of the cradle members I59 and I6I, respectively, into engagement with the associated detents I45 which are thus moved out of the downward path of the arbors connected to one of the cradle members.

v withdraws the arms I66 and I61 permitting the cylinder arbors to roll into the cradle recesses and the fresh cylinder is carried thereby into position to be engaged by the centering points on the centering spindles I64 and I05. When in the cradle recesses the axis of the cylinder lies slightly below the center of rotation provided by the centering spindles, but the conical form of the supporting centers lifts the cylinder when the spindle I65 is moved inwardly and the cylinder is thereby held free to rotate.

Operation of the cylinder changing cycle is initiated by applying power to the motor I41 after a recording operation, or at any other time, by means to be more fully described hereinafter. A cam IN is so oriented on the cam shaft I48 with respect to the cams I52 and I 53 that, at the completion of a cylinder changing cycle, it operates an associated switch I12 to momentaril break the contacts I 13. Through means to be described this cuts ofi power to the motor, The arrangement is such that before the motor is brought to a stop by its braking system, the cam I'H moves i sufi'lciently to permit reclosing of the contacts I13.

Communication circuit The communication circuit connecting the transmitting apparatus (Fig. 8) and the receiving apparatus (Fig. 9) comprises a pair of conductors LI and L2 which are used simultaneously for the transmission of the alternating current facsimile signals or message impulses and the direct current control signals. by which the operation of the ductor LI is controlled by apparatus at the receiving station for the purpose of operating a polar relay I8I connected to this conductor at the transmitting station. Similarly, the polarity of the direct current potentials which are applied to the conductor L2 is controlled by the apparatus at the receiving station for the purpose of operating a polar relay I82 connected to this con- I6I, mounted on a rocker shaft I62 journaled in Y any convenient bearings. "Means for rocking the ductor at the transmitting station. Each of these polar relays is of the three-position type whereby the tongue is moved to one extreme contact in re and s. The tongue I89 of the relay I92 cooperates with contacts 112 and s.

It should be understood that a number of separate transmitting mechanisms may normally be connected to a single communication circuit in a party line system and that each transmitter is adapted to be locked against operation when any other transmitter n the same line is operating, as will be described hereinafter and as is fully set forth in Patent No. 2,262,715.

Operation The operation of the system will be described in conjunction with Figs. 8 and 9 taken together. It is assumed that power is applied to the transmitting apparatus by connecting any suitable source of alternating current potential I99 to the bus bars A and B, and that bus bar A in Fig. 8 is electrically an extension of A.

Assuming a customer has a prepared message to be transmitted, he places the required coin such, for example, as a quarter in the coin opening 63 of the slide 9i and presses'the latter inwardly to the limit of its movement, causing the coin to move the switch arms 9! and 83 to close the associated switch contacts 92 and B9, respectively.

If a coin of improper size, or a washer, is employed it will be apparent that one or'the other of th switch arms will not operate to close the associated contacts and the apparatus will not operate. If a washer having a central hole, or a coin of proper size but too thin for a quarter is used, the rear switch arm 93 will close the contacts 89 but the center switch arm (M will drop, keeping the lower of the contacts 92 closed and leaving the upper open, the position shown in Fig. 8. Under these circumstances a signal is operated to attract the customer's attention. As illustrated, the signal comprises a sign marked "Slug." or other suitable marking, illuminated by one of the lamps 9? abov referred to,. the circuit for which is provided by a conductor I89 connecting bus bar A through the upper contacts of a switch 59! to the lamp, the other side of the lamp being connected by conductor I99, lower switch contacts 82, switch contacts 99, conductor I99 and drum contacts 99, closed at this time, to B bus bar.

However, assuming a proper coin to have been used and the coin slide pushed in, the switch arm 8| will be lifted to open the lower contacts 82 and close the upper, while the switch arm 83 is operated to close the contacts 89. This operation energizes the coil of a relay I9I drawing downwardly the relay armature I92 and a multi-contact switch arm I93 connected to the armature. One set of contacts I99 of the multi-contact switch connects power to the exciter lamp 23 of the photocell system, also to the synchronous motor 2| driving the scanning mechanism, and to the light chopper motor 29. Power, suitably rectified where necessary, is applied to the amplifier 98 in any conventional manner, not shown. The beam from the exciter lamp 23 is reflected from the cylinder through the optical system of the photocell, including the light chopper to the photocell 22 and causes a carrier to be generated and passed through the amplifier to the wires LI and L2 01? the communication circuit. At the central station, where the receiving apparatus is usually located, see Fig. 9, this carrier signal is picked up by a line amplifier I99 which is floating on the circuit at all times through normalization of the line Jack I91. This signal operates a relay I98 in the plate circuit of an output tube, lights ing a lamp I99 to attract the attention of a station operator or attendant. One of the contacts of the relay I99 also lights a lamp 29I over the line jack I97, associated with the particular communication circuit, and a third contact of the relay puts positive potential on the line L2 which operates the polar relay I92 moving the tongue I94 thereof into engagement with the marking contact m. This energizes a magnet 292 moving iii iii

the armature 299 thereof to the left in Fig. 8 and ositioning the hooked end thereof over the end of the armature I92 and looking it and the associated multi-contact switch arm I99 in operative position.

As hereinafter pointed out, the magnet 292 may also be energized under certain conditions of operation, without first energizing the magnet MI, in which case the armature 299 would be positioned under the armature I92 and prevent movement thereof, thus locking the transmitting apparatus against operation.

Operation of the polar relay E82 as described also causes the "Deposit message light to light, current passing thereto from the A bus bar through the polar relay, switch contacts 299,

, lamp, coin slide operated switch contacts 99, conbar. At the same time the relay 299 is operated, one tongue 29? of which causes the chute magnet 37 to be energized and withdraw the chute closure 99 to permit a message to be placed therein; Simultaneously, a second tongue 298 on relay 299 energizes the coin return magnet 98, which is self-locking through the tongue 2 and the normally closed contact oi a thermal relay 299. Energi zing the magnet 98 moves the armature 61 to position the detent 69 in the slide holding opening. A back contact 2l2 on the relay 299 also connects the relay to the conductor I99 without passing through the switch contacts so that the latter can be opened without releasing the relay. As will be later apparent, this prevents reopening ofthe chute I5 when the circuit is operated to accept the coin 65 in the coin slide 9i, thus holding it in retracted position while permitting the coin slide to return just far enough to open the switch contacts 99. The coin in the slide rests on the face of the lever E2. The message sheet is placed in the chute by the customer. It passes down the chute to the rotating scanning cylinder I'I around which it is wrapped in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8, and described more fully in Patent No. 2,262,715. This causes the arm 99 to be lifted out of the groove 91, opening the drum contacts 99, putting out the "Deposit message light and releasing relay 298. This deenergizes the chute magnet 31, closing the chute. The coin release magnet 89 remains locked through the closed thermal relay contact. Opening the drum contacts also deenergizes the relay 22I, which had been previously energized on downward movement of the multi-contact switch I93, and permits closing a back contact 222 which keeps power on the transmitting apparatus as long as a message is on the scanning 2,884,754 cylinder I1. This prevents the central office oper 7 ator from turningofl the machine by mistake.

The ce'ntral ofllce operator, seeing the lights I30 and MI, plugs into the Jack I01 with a plug 22:. This disconnects the line amplifier I" from the lines LI and L2 and connects a rotary switch 224 and a recording amplifier 225 to the communication circuit. Adjustment of the power level is made by means 01a pad 226'at the input of the recording amplifier 225 until the indicator of a meter 221 associated with the amplifier indicates the desired value. The rotary switch'224 has four sets of contacts and four switch arms which are operated simultaneously. The movable contact on each arm is in the form of a brush so that as the switch arms are moved the contact on each maintains connection so that contact is made with the next point before the brush leaves the last preceding point.

It should be understood that the rotary switch was on No. 1 position marked Deposit message at the beginning of the operation, see Fig. 9. After adjustment of the power, the rotary switch is moved to the No. 2 position marked Recrd., This puts positive potential on the line LI by operating a relay 23I, the tongue 232 of which applies positive potential to the line LI through a conductor 233, plug 223 and jack I91. At the same time a relay 235 is heldactiveto put positive potential on line L2.

Positive potential on line LI operates the polar relay I8I at the transmitting apparatus moving the tongue I83 thereof to engage the marking contact m. This causes the half-nut magnet 33 to be energized, engaging the half-nut 28 with the feed screw 21 and moving the scanning carriage longitudinally of the rotating scanning, cylinder I1 to scan the message on the cylinder. At the same time, the signal light Message being transmitted is lighted to inform the customer.

Also, the number 2 position of the rotary switch 224, by means of the third brush releases-the locking coil 236 of a relay 231, which had been energized by the previous position of the switch. This permits the other coil 238 of the relay to be released by a relay 239 in the plate circuit of one of the recording amplifier tubes. The relay 239 is operated as a result of the exciter lamp beam passing over a black mark 240 suitably located on the message sheet, as described in Patent No. 2,262,715. Briefly, the scanning light at the transmitter causes a carrier signal to be received by the amplifier 235, with the plug in the lack. Incidence of the light on the black mark causes the received carrier to drop .ln amplitude and this releases the relay 239. This, in turn, releases the relay 231 which deenergizes a phasing the scanning cylinder I1.

and stylus magnet Ill on the recorder holding the half-nut and stylus in inoperative position. When the phasing relay 24I is'deenergized as a result of the black mark passing. under the beam of the exciter lamp 23, the latch magnet is energized to unlatch the driving spindle I04 and begin rotation of the recording cylinder IOI in phase with Simultaneously, the relay 243 is released which in turn deenergizes the half-nut and stylus magnet I3I permitting the spring I32 to move the armature I26 to place the stylus in operative engagement with the surface of the message blank on the recording cylinder IM and the half-nut in engagement with the feed screw I29 to move the stylus longitu-.

dinally along the recording cylinder.

When the carriage has traveled far enough to record the message, a carriage controlled contact 245 is made to operate a buzzer 248 to attract lay .24I to d'eenergize the framing magnet I I1 to permit the latch I I5 to again engage the disc H4 and hold the spindle and recording cylinder stationary, Relay 243 is operated to energize the recording half-nut magnet I3I to disengage the half-nut I28 from the feed screw and permit return of the recording carriage to it original position.

The lowest brush of the rotary switch when in No. 3 position operates a drum removal relay 25! to which the switch is connected by a conductor 252 through a condenser 253 having a by-pass resistance, 254. The tongue of the relay 25I operates the locking coil 255, the circuit of which includes the cam controlled contacts I13 of the switch I12. The relay 25I also operates a relay 258, one tongue 251 of which controls the circuit of the motor I41 for changing the recording cylinders IN. The other tongue 258 of the relay 256 also controls the half-nut magnet relay 243. Hence, operation of the relay 25! operates the cylinder change motor I41 at the recorder causing the cylinder with the transcribed message to v be ejected from the machine and a new cylinder relay 24I, the tongue 242 of which thereupon closes the circuitof the framing magnet II 1 on the recording mechanism. The rotary switch 224 is left in the No. 2 position during transmission 1 .II5 engaging the notch in the disc H4, the friction drive II3 slipping at this time. Also, the relay 2 being energized operates a relay 243, the

tongue of which closes the circuit of the half-nut 7| put in place. This is accomplished in one revolution of the cam shaft I48, at the end of which cam .11! momentarily opens contacts I13 releasing the relay 25I and stopping the motor I41. With the rotary switch on No. 3 position, the conductor 252 is grounded. The momentary surge of current charging the condenser 253 is sufilcient to operate the relay. Even if the cylinder changing operation is completed before the rotary switch is movedv off No. 3 position, the relay 25 I will release upon the circuit of the locking coil 255 being broken" by the opening of contact I13. c

If for any reason a recording cylinder is not in position in the receiving apparatus, the longitu-.

dinally movable spindle I05 will move'inwardly, to the right in Fig. 9, sufficiently far to close an overthrow switch 26I operating a relay .262 which operates relay 248 to energize the half-nut magnet and prevent operation of the recording stylus and carriage. 1

The central ofllce operator, if he finds the recorded message satisfactory will move the rotary switch through the No. 4 to the No. 5 position. In passing through the No. 4 position a positive potential is again put in LI, operating polar relay I8I at the transmitting station and momentarily energizing the half-nut magnet 83. The lug 92 on the half-nut lever 29 engages the switch levers 9| to close contacts 93 when the magnet is energized. The purpose of this is to keep the multi-contact switch locking magnet 202 energized when positive potential is removed fromline L2.

When the rotary switch is in the No. 5 position positive potential is supplied to line LI by operation of the relay 29I, while relay 235 is released, removing positive potential from line L2 and relay 29I is operated toapply negative potential thereto. Negative potential on line L2 moves the tongue I84 of polar relay I02 to en- Ease the spacing contact 3. Through multiswitch contacts 292 and contacts 93 this operates the peel magnet 52 to remove the message blank from the scanning cylinder. If the message has been received satisfactorily, after peeling the rotary switch is turned to the No. 9 position in which there is no potential on line LI and negative potential on line L2. This places the tongue of polar relay IIiI in neutral position releasing the half-nut magnet 93 and opening contacts 99. Simultaneously, the tongue I80 of polar relay I92 engages its a contact. The multi-switch locking magnet is released and the switch arm I93 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 6. This lights the Message accepted" light at the transmitting station. At the same time the coin accept magnet '14 is energized and locked through the thermal relay contact to withdraw the coin supporting lever 12 away rom beneath the coin slide permitting the coin drop into any suitable receptacle, the magnet circuit being through relay contacts 294, conductor 293. upper switch contacts 292 to polar relay contact 8. Operation of the coin accept magnet operates the thermal relay 209 through contact 295 to open, after a few seconds, the closed contact thereof and rei recording station may rerun the message with either increased or decreased power, that is, after the rotary switch has been placed in No.3 position and the copy has been read, if a darker or a lighter copy is desired the operator can make a suitable adjustment of the pad 226 and then return the switch to its No. 2 position in which the recording operation will be repeated. If, on the other hand, the original message is not legible, it will be impossible to obtain a legible copy. In this event the operator moves the rotary switch from its No. 3 position through the Nos.

. tion. This position of the polar relay also op- V 4, 5 and 6 positions to the No. '7 position. The

; No. 6 position functions in the same way as'No. 4 described above in that it puts a positive potenera'tes the thermal relay 209 to open the normally closed contact thereof deenergizing the coin return magnet 98 permitting the coin slide to return to extended position with the coin still located therein. The rotary switch is then turned off and the plug removed from the Jack I91. When the customer has rewritten his message legibly he starts again at the beginning.

The magnet 202 in the transmitting apparatus has a dual purpose. As described above, it locks the machine in operative position. Where a plurality of machines are on a single communication circuit the magnets'of the inoperative machines will position their armatures so as to prevent movement of the multi-contact switch armature I92 when potential is on the circuit as a result of the operation of some other transmitting apparatus on the line. At the same time the Line busy",light will light and this condition is maintained while the machine in use is having a message sheet removed from its cylinder by the peel magnet, due to operation of a relay 299 in each inoperative machine, the contact 299 of which closes the circuit of the Line busy" light.

Condensers 30I pass the carrier current tothe amplifier 225, while choke coils 302 block the carrier frequencies from the control apparatus.

The output of the amplifier 225 is fed through a signal inverter 303 to the recording stylus I21 and passes through the grounded centering spindle I05, the recording aper being of any suitable electrochemical type.

It will be understood that many modifications ,and changes can be made in the structure and said circuit for transmitting message signals representative of said subject matter over said circuit, a receiving apparatus connected to said circult for recording said signals, a check-controlled mechanism for preparing said transmitting apparatus for receiving said sheet, a check-return mechanism, and means controlled from said receiving apparatus for operating said check-return mechanism and removing said sheet from I said transmitting apparatus.

operative, and means controlled from said receiving apparatus for collecting the check from said check-controlled mechanism and simultaneously rendering said transmitting apparatus inoperative.

3, A facsimile telegraph system including a communication circuit, a transmitting apparatus including a scanner connected .to said circuit for transmitting message signals representative of subject matter over said circuit, a receiving apparatus connected to said circuit for recording said signals, a check-controlled mechanism including a check slide having a check opening, means controlled by an operative movement of said slide with a suitable check in said opening to prepare said transmitting apparatus for operation, means controlled from said receiving apparatus for preparing said scanner to receive subject matter for transmission and for locking said slide in operated position for the duration of a scanning operation, and means controlled from said receiving apparatus for accepting or rejecting said check and means controlled from said receiving apparatus for removing said subject matter from said scanner.

4. In a facsimile system, a communication circuit, a transmitting station including scanning apparatus for scanning subject matter. said apparatus being connected to said circuit for the transmission of signals representative of subject matter, said scanning apparatus being adapted to be operatively conditioned by check-controlled mechanism, a receiving station connected to said communication circuit and including apparatus for recording said signals and control signaling apparatus, and means including said receiving station control signaling apparatus for rendering said scanning apparatus inoperative for further scanning of the same subject matter and for controlling said check-controlled mechanism.

5. In a facsimile system, a communication circuit, a transmitting station including scanning apparatus for scanning subject matter, said apparatus being connected to said circuit for the transmission of signam representative of subject matter, said scanning apparatus being adapted to be operatively conditioned by check-controlled mechanism, a receiving station connected to said communication circuit and including apparatus for recording said signals and apparatus for controlling said transmitting station apparatus, and

means including said receiving station control apparatus for rendering said scanning apparatus inoperative for further scanning of the same subject matter, and other means including said receiving station control apparatus for releasing said check-controlled mechanism.

6. In a facsimile system, a communication circuit, a transmitting station connected to said circuit and including scanning apparatus for the transmission of signals representative of subject matter, said scanning apparatus being adapted to be operatively conditioned by check-controlled mechanism, a receiving station connected to said circuit and including apparatus for recording said facsimile signals and apparatus for controlling said transmitting station apparatus by control signals transmitted over said circuit, a sheet bearing subject matter to be reproduced in facsimile, means responsive to a receiving station control signal for locking said check-controlled mechanism and for concurrently preparing said scanning apparatus to receive said sheet, and means responsive to other receiving station control signals for removing said sheet from said scanning apparatus and for releasing said check-controlled mechanism.

GARVICE H. RIDINGS. RALEIGH J. WISE. 

